Nonfrosting pressure reducing regulator



Jan. 15, 1935. R. w. WITTEMANN NONFROSTING PRESSURE REDUCING REGULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1954 LHH I INVENTOR.

L4 ATTORNEY.

Jan. 15, 1935. R, w. WITTEMANN NONFROSTING PRESSURE REDUCING REGULATOR Filed Jan. 15. 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 2K7 r I 5, ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 1 5, 1935 8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .nouraosrme rREssURE REDUCING REGULATOR Rudolph w. Wittemann, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 15, 1934, Serial No. 706,618

8 Claims. (01. 261-19) My invention relates to improvements in ends my invention consists in the novel features means for, and methods of preventing frosting of construction, and in the combination; connec- 'or freezing of the parts of gas pressure regution and arrangement of parts, and in the steps lators orreducers and controlling the temperaconstituting the method hereinafter more fully 6 ture of the gases, and the same has for its obdescribed and then pointed out in the claims.

ject to provide a simple, reliable, and eillcient In the accompanying drawings device which is operative to allow utilization of Figure l is an elevation of one form of device the reduced temperatures produced in the gases constructed according to and embodying my said when the same are expanded withoutdanger invention;

of the apparatus employed becoming clogged or I Fig. 2 is a plan of the lower part of the device; 10 otherwise rendered inoperative by frosting, and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the device on thereby obstructing or preventing the flow of the line 3-3 of Fig.2, and i the gases. Fig. 4 is an elevation, with parts in section,

Further, said invention has for its object to showing a modified form of the device.

effect carbonation or aeration of liquids at de- Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, of the drawings, my 15 sirable reduced temperatures without necessidevice is shown incorporated in the usual prestating the application of excessive heat to the sure reducing valve 10 comprising a lower memgaseous component to prevent frosting of the her 11 and an upper member 12 secured together regulator valve or other parts of the apparatus. by bolts 13 and having a diaphragm 14 clamped Further, said invention has for its object to between the parts. The gas under pressure en- 20 provide a device of the character specified in ters the device through passage 15 under the which the heating means is under control to control of the valve 16 carried by a yoke 16 conmaintain uniform predetermined temperatures nected to the diaphragm 14. The gas passes the without resorting to the wasteful and excessive valve 16 into the chamber 17, expands therein heating of the present methods in use resulting and passes out through outlet or outlets 18 into 25 in poor or non-uniform carbonation and requircontact with the liquid to be carbonated in the ing constant attention in operation. carbonator 19 or other receptacle containing the Further, said invention has for its object to liquid to be acted upon. The reduction in presprovide a device of the character specified in sure of the gas is controlled or regulated by ad which the he ting element thereof is operated justment of the pressure exerted on the' dia- 30 electrically un er thermostatic control. phragm 14 by spring 20 and adjusting screw'21. Further, said invention has for its object to A chamber 22 is formed in the member 11 in provide a device of the character specified in thermal conductive relation to the passage 15 which the gas and the liquid may both be and valve 16. Anelectric heating element or coil brought into contact at reduced temperatures 23 is disposed within said chamber 22 and is 35 without danger of interruption of the operation electrically connected to one side of the line by the frosting or freezing of the apparatus. through conductor 24, the heater being adapted Further, said invention has for its object to for use with either direct or alternating current. provide a device of the character specified which The circuit of the heater 23 is under the control is capable of maintaining low gas temperatures of the circuit controlling thermostat 25 of the 40 upon expansion of the gases without danger of plug type threaded into' the opening 26, and said temperatures causing frosting or freezing projecting into the chamber 17 in contact with of the apparatus. the gas therein under reduced pressure. The

Further, said invention has for its object to thermostat is of the usual type and comprises provide a device of the character specified in the usual relatively movable contacts connected 45 hich the heating means thereof is controlled in to the line through conductor 24* and with the sponse to thermal conditions of the expanded heater 23 through conductor 24. The thermogases for maintaining the gas temperature at a static circuit control 25 is calibrated or adjusted predetermined value. to close the circuit of the heater 23 when the Further, said invention has for its object to temperature of the expanded gases in the cham- 50 provide a novel method for carbonating or aeratber 17 drops to a predetermined value at which ing liquids. the valve 16, or the seat thereof tends to become Other objects will in part-be obvious and in frosted which would interfere-with the free flow part be pointed out hereinafter. of gas through the pressure reducing valve. The

' To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and adjustment of the thermostat is preferably such 55 that as the temperature in the chamber 17 drops to 32 or 33 F. the thermostat 25 closes the circuit and energizes the heater 23, andas the temperature rises within the chamber 17 to about 34 F. the thermostat opens the circuit to interrupt the heating at 23.

The device above described is particularly adapted for use in carbonating liquids or beverages such as beers, wines, and soft drinks of various kinds. In carbonating liquids it preferable to maintain the'temperature of the liquid as low as possible, and likewise that of the CO2 gas which is usually supplied in cylinders under high pressure or in a liquid or solid state. When contact is made between the liquid and the gas at low temepratures, the liquid is capable of absorbing more gas and retaining it in solution. In the manufacture of beverages, such as beer costly equipment is also employed to reduce the .temperature of the beer to about 32 or 33 F.,

and the room or cellar in which the liquid is carbonated is also preferably maintained at substantially the same temperature. The CO: gas cools in being expanded upon passage through the regulator 10. But without control such cooling results in reductions in temperature of the gas below 32 F.', resulting in frosting or freezing of the pressure reducing valve and interfering with the freeiiow of gases therethrough, or such temperature may'drop below that at which the gas solidifies and causes the valve to become frosted and clog. In my method I maintain the temperature ofthe contacting gases substantially constant and at about the same as the temperature of the liquid, i. e.'about 32 F., and I control the heating of the unexpanded gas in response to the .thermal conditions of the expanded gas to prevent the temperature of the expanded gas from dropping below the freezing point and thereby clogging or interfering with the due operation 'of the apparatus. In the device employed the heating coil 23 and thermostat 25 are preferably incorporated within the pressure reduction valve 10. With the heating element thus located, the minimum amount of elec-- trical energy is required to effect the purpose of the invention and substantially all of this energy is made available at the point most essential, i. e. the valve, without danger of heating the room in which the method is carried out. The device is also entirely automatic in operation without requiring the attention or care required when using the hot water systems now employed in practice. 1

Bymy method, -I amable to utilize the reduced temperatures produced by gas expansion to the maximum extent desirable without danger. of such temperatures dropping below the freezing point, and hence causing clogging or improper action of the apparatus, and without excessively heating the gas to prevent frosting and thereby causeundue temperature rise of the previously chilled liquid. I am thus able to carbonate the liquid without interruption due to frosting of'theapparatus and at temperatures productive of the best product.

At Fig. 4 is illustrated a modified form of the device in the form of an accessory for applica tion to present forms of pressure reducing valves 10 now in use. In this form of the device I provide a member 27 having a threaded coupling 2'7 at one end adapted to be secured to the inlet end 28 of the pressure reducer 10 and a nipple 28 at its opposite end adapted to be secured to the con-' tainer for the gas under pressure. The element 27 is provid "with a passage 29 through which gas is deliv red from its container to the valve 10 and with a lateral chamber 30 containing a heating element or coil 23.

A separate element or member 31 having a time without causing dangerous freezing or frosting of the gas pressure reducers.

By my invention, I am able to carbonate beverages with both the liquid and gas maintained at reduced temperatures approximating the freezing point of water so that the gas is more readily absorbed by, and maintained uniformly distributed throughout the liquid, and this is' accomplished by controlling the gas temperature to prevent cooling of the gas upon expansion thereof to an extent liable to cause frosting of the apparatus and resultant interference with its operation.

It will, of course, be understodd that in certain cases, as for example, the carbonating of water in which operation it is customary to use dry CO: gas supplied directly from cylinders, that the said gas at temperatures materially below' the freezing point of water may be, admixed to the water before the valve will become frosted and clog or its due operation otherwise interfered with.

Having thus described my said invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The hereindescribed method of aerating liquids which consists in applying heat to a gaseous fluid under pressure for preventing undue reduction in the temperature of the gaseous ,fluid when the same expands, expanding said gas and causing the same to contact with the liquid, and controlling the heat applied, in response to the thermal conditions of the expanded gas, to maintain the temperature of the latter substantially constant.

2. The hereindescribed method of aerating liquids which consists in expanding a gas under pressure and causing the same to contact with a liquid at approximately the freezing point while applying heat to the gas, and controlling the heat applied to maintain the temperature of the expanded gas at approximately the freezing point of water.

3. The hereindescribed method of carbonating liquids which consists in applyingheat to a gas under pressure and releasing said gas to allow said gas to expand and decrease in temperature,

freezing point of Wat. and con rolling the heat applied to the gas to" maintain the temperature of the expanded gas at approximately that o! the liquid.

5. A device of the character described comprising a gas pressure regulator, an electric heater at the inlet side of said regulator, and thermostaticmeans at the outlet sides of said regulator for controlling the circuit of said heater.

6. A device of the character described comprising a casing having gas pressure regulating 'means therein, and inlet and'outlet passages therein, said casing having a chamber therein adjacent said inlet passage, an electric heating element disposed in said chamber, and a thermostatic element extending into said casing at the outlet side thereof for controlling the circuit of said heating element.

'7. A device of the character described comprisingfa casing having gas pressure regulating means therein, and inlet and outlet passages therein, said casing having a chamber therein in heat conducting relation to said inlet passage, a heating element disposed in said chamber, and a thermostatic element extending into said casing at the outlet side thereof for controlling RUDOLPH w. WITTEMANN. 2o 

